The Beginning

The Chino Valley Fire District has humble beginnings. For several years, there was no fire department in Chino at all and no ability to stop fires other than by the volunteer efforts of neighbors and luck. Community founder, Richard Gird, had a few fire hydrants located in town along with some lengths of hose.

Chino Fire Company No. 1

House fires were always a serious threat because there was no electricity as people used lanterns, candles, and gas stoves. On May 25, 1895, while meeting to plan a large 4th of July celebration, a group of businessmen began talking about organizing a fire company and purchasing a hose, hand pumps, and a hook-and-ladder cart. The meeting resulted in the formation of Chino Fire Company No. 1. The members were:

B. K. Galbreath (a prominent merchant): President

Joe Sailer: Vice President

Emil Clause: Secretary

W. J. Tebo: Treasurer

L. F. Deyo, restaurateur, was Foreman, making him the first Fire Chief. John W. Turner, another member of the group, would become Chief in 1906.

Soon after the Fire Company formed in August 1895, it saved O. F. Seeley's Sixth St. house from an early morning blaze that burned King's Chop House. The event was apparently the first major response by the Fire Company.

Expansions

In March 1896, the Fire Company ordered its first hose cart and 300 more feet of two-inch hose. Two months later, the equipment was used to save Jules Moyse's store in a late-night fire.

A cart house was erected by volunteers in June 1896 on the southeast corner of Seventh and D St. In January 1897 a bell was ordered for the fire tower on the hose house. The bell cracked on August 6, 1915 when it was rung hard and long by Sidney Moyse after two pyromaniacs set seven fires that evening. Five of the fires were of major proportion and resulted in the loss of many thousands of dollars' worth of property. The old bell was replaced with a siren in 1925, which can now be seen near Chino Valley Fire District Station 61 in Central Park, across from Chino City Hall.

In March 1899, the Fire Company received $24.76 from the County Board of Supervisors, Chino's share of a tax on out-of-state insurance companies doing business in the state. The next month, it was announced the Fire Company would purchase a 35-foot ladder, four hooks, 12 rubber hats, and red shirts. Each volunteer in the early Fire Company paid $1 to join, 10 cents per month in dues, and were voted into the department.

When the bell went off, the firefighters responded by pulling the hose cart to the fire. They would hook it to one of ten hydrant plugs in town. Drills were held twice a month.